Breathing apparatus



Patented May 10, 1927.

UNITED j STATES.

PATENT, OFFICE.

GEORGE S. MoCAA, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION PENNSYLVANIA.

' BREATHING Application filed May 21,

The invention relates to portable self-con taincd oxygen breathing apparatus, that is ous gases.

to say, ltDPttltLiiUS of the character-used by. miners, firemen and others when operating in amospheres containing noxious or poison-.

The object of'the invention is toimprove the structural supporting frames of apparatus of the character'described to the end that panying drawings ofwhich Fig. l is a YlQW,

: of the back of the apparatus; Fig. 2 a view of the front of the apparatus; a view of the left end ofthe apparatus as seen in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 a view similar to Fig. 3 showing certain parts of the apparatus ii alternate positions. The apparatus shown herein includes generally the same units of construction for an air circulatory system and an oxygen-supplying system as are disclosed in my patent application Serial No. 581,374, and for the most part the details of construction of the several units arev the same as shown in such ap iilication. It is therefore unnecessary to here describe them in detail.

The several elements of theapparatus ar mounted upon and supported by a frame including back portion 1 extending from the top to the bottom of the apparatus, and which n'iay take the form of atube. To the upper end of the frame there is attached a breathing bag 2, quick access to which is sometimes desired, but which is not possible in breathing apparatus as heretofore constructed bccai'ise of the character and manner of attachment of the hood requiredfor protecting the breathing bag. According to this invention the breathing bag is protected by a hood which is pivotally attached to the frame and. adapted to be held in its normal bag'ln'otecting position by a quickly releas able catch or lock. v

The hood preferably comprises a top 3, sides 4- and back 5, and is preferably pivoted at the lower edge of its back, as at 6, to a plate 7 forming part of the frame and attached to and projecting rearwardly from frame member 1. The forward edge of top of the hood may be provided with a hasp 8 APPARAI. Us;

1923. Serial No.640,295.;

adapted to beheld inclosed position by a."

. an open or rearward position, the breathing bagbeing fully exposed.

. One object in pivoting the hood atthe lower edgeofits back in the manner shown and described is to afford ready access to an air regenerator CitDlSllQl 11 arranged immediately below the breathing bag and attached to and supported by the frame, The construction here is such that by opening the hood the canister may be-quickly. removed,

or relille .l in case it'is provided withfilling orifices at its top. However, it is preferred to provide'the canister with an. end filling orifice 12 as shown in the drawings.

The invention also contemplates provision for supporting an oxygen bottle by the frame in such a manner that it may be easily and quickly removed and replaced. As shown in the drawings an oxygen bottle 13, is indicated as being supported .at the bottom of the frame, frame member .1 being provided with a backwardly turned portion 14 for receiving the bottle. To the outer edge of frame portion'l l there ispivotally attached a strap 15, which, by means of a lock 16, is adapted to be held in closed position to retain a bottle in place, such lock being constructed to engage a plate 17 forming a part of the frame. By this construction the bottle may be readily removed and replaced by merely releasing and swinging downwardly strap 15. After a filled bottle has been attached to the apparatus the strap may be again moved to its bottle-retaining position. In Fig. 3 the strap is shown in v closed position, and in Fig. 4 in its open position.

Other elements of the apparatus shown in the drawings include an'inhalation tube 27 and an exhalation tube 28, each of which are preferably attached to the lower middle portion of the apparatus so that the tubes may conveniently lie under the arm of a user of the apparatus. An oxygen control valve 19 and a pressure regulating valve 20 .are indicated as being attached in series to the oxygen bottle for the purpose of props erly controlling and regulating the flow of oxygen. The front of frame member 1 has attached to it an upper back plate-21 and a lower back plate 22 which rest against the back of a user of the apparatus. The lower back plate 22 is shown as being formed in sections, its outer ends consisting of wings 23, pivoted to the central portion 22, and to which the usual or any desired supporting harness may be attached. By forming the lower back plate of a central portion 22 and pivoted wings 23, the plate readily conforms to the backs of difierent users of the apparatus.

It is characteristic of the improved breathing apparatus disclosed herein that access may be readily had to several elements ofthe apparatus which heretofore have been inaccessible except by the removal of more or less permanently attached securing members such as bolts and screws. This makes it possible to more quickly adjust and repair or replace such units.

According to the provisions of the patent statute, I have described the principle and 1 operation of my invention, together with the construction which I now consider to repre sent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scopeof the appended claims, the invention may bepracticed by other forms of construction than that particularly shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a breathing apparatus, a supporting frame having a breathing bag attached to its upper end, and a protecting hood for said bag pivotally attached to said frame whereby access may be quickly had to the breathing bag.

2. In a breathing apparatus, a supporting frame having a breathing bag attached to its upper end, a hood comprising a top, sides andback'for protecting said bag, said hood being pivotally attached to said frame, and a catch for holding the hood in closed position.

3.'In a breathing apparatus, a supporting frame having a breathing bag attached to its upper end, and a hood comprising a top, sides and'back for protecting said bag, the lower edge of the back of said hood being pivotally attached to said frame.

4, In a breathing apparatus, a supporting frame having a breathing bag attached to its upper end, an air regenerator attached to the frame immediately below said bag, and a protecting hood for said bag pivotally attached at its lower edge to said frame whereby access may be had to said regenerator by swinging the hood away from the bag.

In testimony whereof, I- sign my name.

GEORGE S. MoCAA. 

